Blind



April 7, 1931- I H. J. MACKIN 1,799,522

BLIND Filed Feb. 12, 1930 SSheets-Sheet 1 www- ' Pril 7, 1931. -H. J. MACKIN 1,799,522

BLI'ND Filed Feb; 12, 1950 :5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Apr. 7, 1931' PATENT OFFICE} HENRY J. nacxm, or xmxaxnn, rumors BLIND Application filed February 12, 1930. Serial mfsamos.

This invention relates to window blinds, particularly to blinds of the type which is enerally referred to as Venetian blinds. In its main outline, the structure of the invention includes a series of slats extending laterally across a window, together with mechanism for supporting them, for raising them and for tilting them. i

The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a blind positioned in a window;

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical cross section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional detail taken on an enlarged scale atline 33 of Figure 1 Figure 4 is a sectional detail on an enlarged scale taken at line 4-4 of Figure ,1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view showing the blind lowered,- with parts in section and parts broken away;

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical cross section on an enlarged scale taken at line 6-6 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal cross section taken at line 7-7 of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional detail taken at line 88 of Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a vertical section through the blind, showing the channel in elevation and showing in addition a ventilatorsupported on the channel with parts of the ventilator in section Figure 10 is a horizontal section taken on line 10--10 of Figure 9;

Like parts are designated by like characters throughout the specification and drawmgs.

- A is a window frame within which a window A is positioned. The blind and its associated parts are positioned within the window frame.

B is a channel member formed on one side with a slot BR, The slot B is preferably bounded by inwardly extending flanges or ribs B One such channel is fastened on the inside of the window frame as shown'in the figures. Adjacent the to of the window 50 frame and engaging the anges B at each Positioned within the housin side is positioned a channel member 0'. This member has at its top a flange C which may overlie a portion of the top of the channel' member B. Positioned upon the member 0 is a bearing housing or inclosure C. This 86 housing may constitute the outer ball race of a ball hearing, as shownin detail in Figure 7. C is a short and preferably hollow shaft There may be fixed on the outside of this shaft a ball race C. C, C areballs mounted o rotate between the outer race formed by he member 0 and the inner race C. The shaft (l is preferably provided in one end with a pair of slots 0. t its opposite end the shaft C 66 has mounted upon 1t a sprocket wheel C". As shown there are two such housin C. and consequently two shafts C normal y associated with each complete blind assembly. C is a shaft adapted to fit at each end within 70 one of the hollow shafts C and to be held in position against rotation with relation tothese shafts by cotter pins C".

D is the u permost slat. It is normally provided wit a downwardly curved central ortion D and upwardly extending edges or anges D which terminate in inwardly and downwardly bent corners D. Mounted at either end of the slat D is a retaining member D. This is curved as shown in Figure 6. to conform to the-shape of the bearing housin member 0 over which it is positioned an which it embraces. One end of the member D is hooked under one of theflanges D as shown at D". The other end is adi) stably 8 held in position by means of a screw By means, of this construction the slat D-and its associated parts may be positioned on the members 0 and the parts may be so adjusted thatthe slat can rotate freely on this member. The member C thus furnishes a bearing for the slat and its associated partsr which are su ported from it.

ownwardly depending from the slat D is a 1pair of tapes E. These tapes are fastened at t eir upper ends to the slat D by wedges D and are joined intermediate their ends at frequent and preferabl regular intervals by cross tape. members At their bottoms they are fastened to a bottom slat member E.

' is rotatably mounted a roller E. E is a looped tiltinlg cord. At one end it is fastened to the slat at E. It extends across this slat as at E .and downwardly as at E.

Its other end is also fastened to the slat D, but

' crosses below it as indicated at E thence passes upwardly as at E about the roller and downwardly as at E. When the slats are in the position indicated in Figure 4 and it is desired to tilt them, a downward pull on the ortion E of the tiltin cord will cause the eft hand edge of the s ats as shown in Fi re 4, to be de ressed. If this position is to e reversed, a ownward pull on the portion E is necessary and this would reverse the slats and tilt them if continued to the full tilting limit in the opposite direction.

F is a raising bar. Normally it will extend within the slot B B of the channels B, B at each end, as indicated particularly in Figures 1 5 and 6. At each end of the raising bar is a supporting member F which lies in large part within the channel B and is provided with an outwardly extending portion F? which extends be 0nd it. This portion is fastened to the bar F or other suitable means. Fastened to the member F atthe left hand side as shown articularly in Figures 1 and 7, is a chain F. is chain normally lies wholly within the channel B and meshes with one of the sprocket wheels 0, as shown in detail in Figure 3. The clearance between the teeth of the wheel C and the sides of the channel member B is such that the chain F cannot slip out of engagement with the teeth. At the opposite side of the window is a similar chain F which is fastened to the corresponding supporting member F. This chain F meshes with the right hand sprocket wheel G and it also is held in engagement with that wheel by the fact that the clearance between the wheel and the side walls of the channel which incloses it is not suflicient to permit displacement of the chain. The right hand channel member B is preferably provided. with a cut away portion F through which the chain F extends outwardly. F is a catch member ref erably fastened on the side of the right and channel member B and provided 'with a slot F. Within this slot the chain F ma be moved and when so moved the chain is eld against upward or downward movement, as the slot is only narrow enough to permit one of the relatively thin portions of the chain link to netrate. This construction is shown in detail in Figures 5, 6 and 7 In Figures 9 and 10, I show a modification by means of screws F in which the channel .B is made to support a pair of ventilator sections. These sectlons, as shown, are more or less triangular in plane and comprise the members G, each of which has onestrai ht edge from which a flange G is bent. ThlS flange is adapted to be engaged in or behind the inwardly extending ange B of the channel B, as indicated in Figure 10. The member G is provided also with a flan e or bent portion G on its opposite or incllned edge and it has formed parallel with this flange a member G Between the flange Gr and the member G a sheet of glass or other preferably transparent or translucent material G is removably positioned.

By means of the construction shown in these figures, the channel B and its associ ated flanges serve also as the supportin and positioning member for theventilator olding part and thus a ventilator may be positioned in the window in which the blind has been located and this may be done without the necessity of fastening any other parts into the window frame or casing since the ventilator itself is carried on the channel B which is an essential part of the blind and,

therefore, must be used whether or not th ventilator is to be added.

It will be obvious that while I have shown and described an operative device, many changes ma be made in the size, shape, proportion an relation of arts without departing materially from t e spirit of my invention, and I wish therefore that my description and showing be,considered as in a lar e measure diagrammatic.

'%he use andoperation of this invention are as follows:

When the parts are in the osition shown, for example, in Figure 1, t e slats are so tilted as to admit a maximum of light and the blind is .down throughout substantially thewhole len h of the window. The raising chain F 1s locked in the catch F and movement of the blind cannot accident-ally take place. If now, it is desired to tilt the blind downwardly a downward pull on the portion E of the tilting cord wi inner-edges of the slats as viewed in Figure 1, to tilt downwardly. The tiltin of the slats is effected, of course by the tilting of the upper slat D which moves the tapes E so as to tilt the slats which are held by them, and this movement is entirely inde endent 0 the position of the blind as a who e or the bar F. N o matter what the position of the blind or what portion of it is up or down, so lon as the blind is not wholly raised, that portio which is down can be til ed.

To raise or lower the blind the chain F is moved out of contact with "the catch F and if the blind is to be raised, the chain is pulled downwardly. This rotates the right and sprocket G and through the right 1 cause the lot hand shaft C, the shaft C, the left hand sprocket G and the left hand shaft C this raises the chain F and thus raises the two sides of the bar F together. When the blind has been moved to the proper position the chain F is again engaged with the catch F and further movement is. prevented. To lower the blind it is 'sufiicient to move the chain F out of engagement with the catch F and permit the weight of theblind to pull it downwardly the desired distance.

The tapes E are fastened to the top slat D by means of wedges or keys D". These are fitted into the channel made by the inwardly and downwardly bent edges or corners D of the flanges D of the slat D. The use of this type of fastening makes it possible to attach and detach the tapes E from the slat readily.- When it is necessary to remove the parts for cleaning or repair, it is necessary only to dislodge the wedges D from their osition, as indicated in Figures 4 and 6. he tape E which is bent around the curved ortions D of the flanges D is then free to e removed. I claim: 1. In combination in a window blind, a plurality of inclosed guides, a shaft extend-- ing at each end into one of said guides, said shaft carryin sprockets, a chain over each of said s roc ets, the clearance between the ends of t e sprocket teeth and said guide being such as to prevent said chain from slipping off of the sprocket teeth, a portion of one of said chains adapted to be moved to rotate the shaft.

- 2. In combination in a window blind, a plurality of inclosed guides, a shaft extending at each end into one of said guides, said shaft carrying sprockets, a chain over each of said s rockets, the clearance between the ends of t e sprocket teeth and said guide being such as to prevent said chain from slipping pit of the sprocket teeth, a portion of one of 'sa 1d chains extending out from the guide within which it lies and adapted to be moved to rotate the shaft.

3. In combination in a window blind, a plurality of inclosed guides, a shaft positioned on said guides and extending at each end into one of said guides, said shaft carry- 1ng s rockets, a chain. over each of said s roc ets, the clearance between the ends of t e sprocket teeth and said guide being such as to prevent said chain from slipping off of the sprocket teeth, a portion of one of said chains adapted tobe moved to rotate the shaft.

- 4. In combination in a window blind, a plurality of inclosed guides, said guides having slots formed therein, a shaft extending at each end into one of said guides, said shaft carrying in each of said guides sprockets, a chain over each of said s rockets the clearance between the ends of t e sprocket teeth and said uide being such as to prevent said chain rom slipping 011' of the sprocket teeth, a portion of one of said chains adapted to be moved to rotate the shaft.

, 5. In combination in a window blind, a plurality of inclosed guides, said guides having slots formed therein, a shaft positioned on said guides and extending at each end into one of said uides,sa1d shaft carrying 1n each of said gui es sprockets, a chain over each of said sprockets, the clearance between the ends of the sprocket teeth and said guide being such asto prevent said chain from slipping off of the sprocket teeth, a portion of one of said chains adapted to be moved to rotate the shaft.

6. In combination in a window-blind, a plurality of inclosed guides, said guides having slots formed therein, a shaft positioned on said guides and extending at each end into.

one of said guides, said shaft carrying in each 'of said guides sprockets,a chain over each of said sprockets. the clearance between the chain over each of said sprockets, the clearance between the ends of the sprocket teeth and said guides being such as to prevent said chain from slipping off of the sprocketteeth, a portion of one of said chains extending out from the guide within which it lies and adapted to be moved to rotate the shaft.

8. In combination in a window blind, a plurality of inclosed guides, said guides having slots formed therein, a shaft extending at each end into one of said guides, said shaft carrying sprockets, a chain over each of said sprockets, the clearance between the ends of .the sprocket teeth and said guide being such as to prevent said chain from slipping off of the sprocket teeth.

9. In combination in a window blind, a plurality of inclosed guides, said guides having slots formed therein, a shaft extending at each end into one of said guides, said shaft carrying sprockets, a discontinuous piece of chain over each of said sprockets, the clearance between the ends of the sprocket teeth and said guide being such as to prevent said chain from slipping off of the sprocket teeth.

10. In combination in a window blind, a

lurality of inclosed guides, a shaft extending at each end into one of said guides, said shaft carryingv sprockets, a chain over each pf said sprockets, the clearance between the ends of the sprocket teeth and said guide being such as to prevent said chain from slipping ofi of the sprocket teeth, a portion of one of said chains adapted to be moved to rotate a the shaft, and a raising bar guided by said guides connected to said chains to be supported and moved thereby.

11. In combination in a window blind, a plurality of inclosed'guides, a shaft extending at each end into one of said guides, said shaft carrying sprockets, a chain over each of said sprockets the clearance between the ends of t e sprocket teeth and said guide being such as to prevent said chain from slipping off of sprockets, the clearance between the ends of esprocket teeth and said guide being such as to prevent said chain from slipping off of the sprocket teeth, a portion of one of said chains adapted to be moved to rotate the shaft, and a raising bar guided by said guides connected tosaid chains to be supported and moved thereb 3 13. In com ination in a window blind, a plurality of inclosed guides, said guides having slots formed therein, a shaft extending at each end into one of said guides, said shaft carrying in each of said guides sprockets,-a

' chain over each of said sprockets, the clearance' between the ends of the sprocket teeth and said guide being such as to prevent said chain from slipping oif of the sprocket teeth, a portion of one of said chains adapted to be moved to rotate the shaft, and a raisin bar guidedby said guides connected to said c ains to be supported and moved thereby.

14. In combination in a window blind, a

plurality of inclosed guides, said guides having slots formed therein, a shaft extending at each end into one of said guides, said shaft carrying sprockets, a chain over each of said sprockets, the clearance between the ends of the sprocket teeth and said guide being such as to prevent said chain from slipping off of the sprocket teeth, and a raising bar guided b chains to e supported and moved thereby.

15. In combination in a window blind, a

plurality of inclosed guides, said guides having slots formed-therein, a shaft extendin at each end into one of said guides, sai shaft carrying sprockets, a v discontinuous piece of chain over each of said sprockets, the

clearance between the ends of the sprocket teeth and Said guide being such as to prevent said guides, ;connected to said said chain from sli ping ofi of the sprocket teeth, and a raising ar guided by said guides connected to saidchains to be supported and moved thereby.

16. In combination in a window blind, a plurality of inclosed guides, a shaft extendin at each end into one of said guides, sai shaft carrying sprockets, a chain over each of said. s rockets, the clearance between the ends 0 the sprocket teeth and said guide being such as to prevent said chain from slipping ofi of the sprocket teeth, a portion of one of said chains-adapted to be moved to rotate the shaft, and a raising bar guided by said guides connected to said chains to besupported and moved thereby, and a series of slats projecting partially into said guides, flexible supporting and spacing members for them and a tiltable controlling slat supporting said flexible members and adapted to be tilted'and to tilt all the slats in unison.

-17. .In combination, a blind including a plurality of members adapted to be raised and lowered, a guide for said members,-a portion of said guide shaped to receive a supporting member for a ventilator.

18. In combination, a guidingelement f01" window blinds, provided with a projectin flange having an inwardly bent edge, sai edge and the body of said member serving as attaching and spacing elements to receive a ventilator part.

19. As a means for supporting in proper spacedrelation, a Venetian blind and a ventilator, a single sup orting and guiding elewindow, and comprising a member provided with a slot adapted to receive portions of said blind and to uide them in their movement, a part bounding said slot provided with a seating part to support a ventilator carryin element, saidventilatorbeingspaced from sai ment adapted to be astened with relation to a 1 element so that the ventilator, when in position, leaves the blind free for normal movement without interference. V

20. In combination in a window blind assembly, means for guiding and positioning the blind and for ositioning and supporting a ventilator, said means including a part formed on said guiding member adapted to receive a ventilator supporting part.

Signed at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, this 3rd day of February,

HENRY J. MAGKIN. 

